(1950-)

Who Is Peter Frampton?

Musician Peter Frampton began his career with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. He is best known for his hit album Frampton Comes Alive! which sold more than 10 million copies and held the notable distinction of being the best-selling live rock album in history until 1998. The album singles "Baby I Love Your Way" and "Do You Feel Like I Do?" are considered the crowning achievement of Frampton's career.

Early Career

Peter Kenneth Frampton was born on April 22, 1950, in Beckenham, England. Raised in a conventional middle-class family, Frampton was a musical prodigy, teaching himself to play the guitar at age 7. Within the next few years, he mastered complex jazz, blues and rock riffs.

Frampton spent his pre-teen years performing with bands like The Little Ravens, The Trubeats and George & The Dragons (a group that included fellow up-and-coming musician David Bowie). Eventually, Frampton caught the attention of The Preachers' manager Bill Wyman (of The Rolling Stones), who recruited him to join The Preachers, an overtly commercial English band.

In 1967, under the tutelage of Wyman, the 16-year-old Frampton became the lead guitarist and singer for the pop-oriented group The Herd. In 1969, after achieving the adoration of teenaged fans with hit singles like "From the Underworld" and "I Don't Want Our Loving to Die," Frampton opted to leave The Herd. Later that year, he and Steve Marriott fronted the blues-based rock band Humble Pie. In 1971, despite positive response for the albums Town And Country (1969) and Rock On (1970), Frampton decided to strike out on his own.

Solo Success

Frampton contributed to George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Nilsson's Son of Schmilsson, before launching his solo career with the debut album Wind Of Change (1972). He toured extensively over the next few years, promoting the albums Frampton's Camel (1973), Somethin's Happening (1974) and Frampton (1975).

The popularity of these albums coupled with Frampton's captivating live performances culminated in the 1976 live double recording Frampton Comes Alive!, which sold more than 10 million copies. The LP held the notable distinction of being the best-selling live rock album in history, while the singles "Baby I Love Your Way," "Do You Feel Like I Do?" and "Show Me the Way" dominated the American charts. Considered the crowning achievement of Frampton's career, the album influenced both Billboard and Rolling Stone magazines to name him Artist of the Year.

Declining Popularity

By the end of the 1970s, Frampton's status began to decline. With musical talents like the BeeGees, Aerosmith and Earth, Wind & Fire, he made his cinematic debut as Billy Shears in the disastrous rock musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978). After a near-fatal automobile accident, Frampton was forced to temporarily shelve his music career. He recorded sporadically throughout the 1980s, most notably releasing Breaking All The Rules (1981), The Art of Control (1982) and Premonition (1986). The following year, his re-entered the public spotlight and began touring as a lead guitarist with longtime friend David Bowie.

Successful Comeback

With the successful release of his 1994 self-titled album followed by Frampton Comes Alive II (1995), he re-embraced his old fans while also attracting a new generation of rock enthusiasts. In 2001, the 25th anniversary recording of the legendary Frampton Comes Alive! celebrated 16 million albums sold. Since then he's released a number of albums including Now (2003), Fingerprints (2006) and Thank You Mr. Churchill (2010).

Personal Life

Frampton has been married three times. He met his first wife, former model Mary Lovett, in 1970. The couple remained together for three years then filed for divorce in 1973. He went on to marry Barbara Gold in 1983, and after a decade of marriage they also got divorced. Frampton and Gold have two children together. Frampton married once again in 1996 to Christina Elfers. Although the relationship lasted nearly 15 years, Frampton filed for divorce in 2011. At the time of their divorce, the couple negotiated custody of their 15-year-old daughter.

In 2019. Frampton was diagnosed with the inflammatory muscle disease Inclusion-Body Myositis.

QUICK FACTS

Name: Peter Kenneth Frampton
Birth date: April 22, 1950
Birth City: Beckenham, Kent
Birth Country: England
Best Known For: English musician Peter Frampton began his career with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. He is best known for his hit album 'Frampton Comes Alive!, which sold more than 10 million copies.
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